Whoa! How can it be the middle of September already? What happened to Summer? And now, the long days of summer are waning fast and late sunsets are coming to a close, but, there are still plenty of surprises awaiting in the garden to help soften the end of those lovely lazy, hazy days. Local tomatoes are still perfect for the picking. Silver Queen corn is at its sweet crunchiest peak. The sunflowers are in bloom, their cheerful faces following the sun across the sky from sun-up to down. There are still plenty of perennials blooming in their glory. And there is still time to plant!
Fall blooming flowers can keep the garden looking chipper right up to winter’s edge. Asters, mums, clematis paniculate and sedums will shine during this time. Fall favorites, however, are anemones, aka windflowers, which can still be found in garden centers for sale and planted through mid-September. With names like ‘Honorine Jobert,’ ‘Whirlwind’ and ‘September Charm,’ how can one resist! These lovely dainty flowers dance in the wind on long willowy stems that somehow never droop or fall over except under the most extreme cases of foul weather or too much shade. They come in a range of soft pinks, lavenders and white, and thrive best in dappled sunlight under the tall branches of a shade tree. They are easy to grow and care for and look marvelous when paired with hosta or fall blooming hydrangea.
Anemone tomentosa ‘Robustissima,’ – sounds like a great Italian wine, doesn’t it? But really, this robust variety will fill in large gaps and add refined elegance to a garden wall or fence, or to the garden bed surrounded by favorite perennials. If given the space, it will naturalize easily and is hearty to zone 3, which makes it a great choice for places with harsher winters. Its light pink blossoms with sunny yellow stamin will keep even the most pessimistic observer believing that summer is still in full swing!
Looking to brighten up a shady nook or gloomy cranny? ‘Honorine Jobert’ to the rescue! This exquisite heirloom bloomer hails from France and has been delighting gardeners since 1858. Its elegant silky white petals are graced with a hint of pink at their outer edges and sway on 36-inch stems from August through October. Another great white heirloom variety is ‘Whirlwind.’ This one was introduced to the world in New York in 1887 and has graced gardens with its wispy, whirly ways ever since. It is a tad smaller and more compact than its French relative, making it perfect for smaller spaces, yet its semi-double flowers made up of dozens of somewhat twisted petals look as though they whirl in the slightest hint of a wind. Both of these are hearty to zone 5.
‘September Charm’ holds its own in the garden with its silver pink flowers with rose shading throughout the petals. As the flowers fade, their petals fall to the ground leaving a lovely seed head that dances along with its siblings in the gentle breezes of late summer. As with all anemones, no need to deadhead! It is hearty to zone 4, can take a bit of sun and its cut flowers look great in vase on the sill or dining table.
There are many varieties of anemones to choose from. Some work as groundcovers, some are shorter and more compact, and some even bloom in the spring! Once planted, these beauties may take a year or two to establish themselves in the garden bed. Be sure to mulch with leaves or straw to protect the roots from harsh winters. Be patient in the spring, as they are late to emerge. As gardeners have loved and grown these gems for more than a century – they will continue to return joy year after year, helping to make the fading light of summer as charming a time as any.
